If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the Forum Rules by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Table of Reverse-Engineered BIOS Hashing Codes by Python

When a laptop is locked with password, a checksum of that password is stored to a sector of the FlashROM - this is a chip on the mainboard of the device which also contains the BIOS and other settings, e.g. memory timings. For most brands, this checksum is displayed after entering an invalid password for the third time:

The dramatic 'System Disabled' message is just scare tactics: when you remove all power from the laptop and reboot it, there are not new penalties such as additional passwords, locks and so on. From such a checksum (also called "hash"), valid passwords can be found by means of brute-forcing. Another method commonly used is that instead of a checksum, a number is displayed from which a randomly generated password can be calculated. Quite often, vendors also resort to storing the password in plain text, and instead of printing out just a checksum, an encrypted version of the password is shown. Either way, my scripts can be used to derive valid passwords with the hash.

Some vendors have implemented obfuscation measures to hide the hash from the end user - for instance, some FSI laptops require you to enter three special passwords for the hash to show up (see other post). HP/Compaq laptops only show the hash if the F2 or F12 key has been pressed prior to entering an invalid password for the last time.

The .NET runtime libraries are required for running the Windows binary files (extension .exe). If the binary files (.exe) don't work out for you, install Python 2.6 (not 3.0!) and run the .py script directly by double-clicking them.

Please comment on what make/model the scripts work and on what they don't. Also, be aware that some vendors use other schemes to handle the passwords - among them are e.g. IBM/Lenovo. You are then at the mercy of their service.